How much is it worth for state lawmakers to not show up to work? There’s a legislative response to the Decision by Senate Democrats to absent themselves from the chamber during the contentious protests over collective bargaining. “Any representatives or senators that decide not to come to session, if they’re absent without leave and they don’t have a good excuse, they would be fined $500 per day,” said Republican state Senator Frank Lasee. “They’d need to pay that themselves, not from a campaign account.”
Lasee pointed out that the fine would apply to lawmakers any party. “You know, some day in the future, the shoe might be on the other foot,” he said. “It is serious business.” Senate Republican leadership did levy fines against the Democrats while they were in Illinois, but they were never collected. Lasee is a Senate sponsor of the Assembly proposal (AB 153).
